A blog dedicated to coverage of rock news, reviews of CD's/DVD's, live gigs and interviews with musicians who have made rock music great!
Coverage of hard rock, classic rock, AOR and popular melodic rock music across the genre.
This blog is the creation of Alun Williams, a Brit now living in Michigan whose previous credits include writing for the following sites:
www.classicrock.about.com
www.classicrockrevisited.com
and www.rocknrolluniverse.com (Now gone)
I hope you enjoy your visit here!

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Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Late News Update for Wednesday August 10th, 2011

Hi folks, well, it’s a crazy busy time as I always tell you, but it really just never seems to stop.

Our trip to the UK to be with family with my Mothers ailing condition meant I was away from any internet for a whole week and no, I don’t have an iPhone, Smartphone, Droid, Android or anything like that …

It still really bugs me that phone companies here in the US, want to charge you a big old fee for the internet access on your phone, when you’re already paying for it at home … They should be a way where the fee of both can be combined into one ‘reasonable’ fee, to be able to do both, so yes, call me dated, but I just have my trusty old Sony Ericsson Quad band flip phone, at least allows me to travel into other countries – i.e. Back home to the UK as and when I need to - and allows me to keep in touch, without having to pay for the internet service.

Enough of all that though … Back to what this site is all about and it’s MUSIC!

One other thing, yes, we have two winners for the Doobies Brothers DVD and CD!

Congrat’s to both John Pierson of Sellersville, PA and Todd Nemphos of Baldwin, MD for guessing correctly that the four members that were a part of the Doobies farewell gig - that is the product we’re giving away – that are in today’s line up are:

Tom Johnston, Pat Simmons, John McFee and Michael Hossack.

Good one guys, John guessed it first and picked the DVD, so the CD of the show goes to Todd and they’ll be in the mail by the end of the week!

My thanks again to Andie at Universal and of course both Universal and Eagle Rock, who are behind this release and provided the giveaway. A review of both, coming to the site soon!

Finally, thanks to everyone for all of your well wishes, it’s greatly appreciated. Cheers, Al

Jon Lord announces he has cancer

Former Deep Purple / Whitesnake keyboard genius, Jon Lord has announced at his site that he is suffering from an undisclosed form of cancer and that he's going to take a break from gigging, for treatment and ultimately, a cure.

This message posted at the man's website:

'I would like all my friends, followers, fans and fellow travelers to know that I am fighting cancer and will therefore be taking a break from performing while getting the treatment and cure.

I shall of course be continuing to write music – in my world it just has to be part of the therapy – and I fully expect to be back in good shape next year.

God bless and see you soon
Jon'

The site's webmaster also added this:

May we also, at Jon’s request, ask if everyone could please respect his need for privacy so that he can spend time with his family (and his music).

Not many people can say that they opened for Alice Cooper and the Ramones, recorded with the Cars, was a fashion model/Playboy Playmate, penned a New York Times best-selling autobiography ('Rebel Heart') and has been praised by such rock icons as Steven Tyler, Joey Ramone and Lemmy Kilmister.

But Bebe Buell has managed to obtain all of these lofty accomplishments, and will undoubtedly add further highlights to her music career, with the impending release of the Bebe Buell Band's new album, 'Hard Love.'

Released on September 27th via the Niji Entertainment Group (a label co-founded by Wendy and Ronnie James Dio), 'Hard Love' is one rockin' good time, as evidenced by such tracks as "Mother of Rock & Roll," "Devil You Know," and a cover of Gang of Four's "I Love A Man In A Uniform."
And Bebe is backed by a rock solid backing band, comprised of Guns N’ Roses drummer Frank Ferrer, former Iggy Pop/Glenn Danzig/Samhain bassist Pete Marshall, former Das Damen/D-Generation guitarist Jimmy Walls, and former U Melt keyboardist Zac Lasher.

Soon, fans of passion fueled, pure rock n' roll will discover what the rock elite has known for decades; Bebe Buell is the real deal, and one fierce rocker. 'Hard Love' is all the sonic proof you'll need.

Bebe: "This is the most important record of my career and it comes from deep in my soul and guts! I love my fans and that's why I do this. Hence the title 'Hard Love.' Every track is filled with my heart, which beats for rock and roll. I'm my happiest onstage and I can't wait to hit the road and play these songs live with the strongest line-up I've ever made magic with." 'HARD LOVE' TRACKLIST:

Following The Straits’ recent stunning debut show at the Royal Albert Hall in May 2011, Alan Clark, Phil Palmer and Chris White from Dire Straits will embark on an 11-date UK tour in October due to the overwhelming demand to hear the band's much loved catalogue of unforgettable songs. 24 Hour Box Office: 0844 811 0051. Book Online: www.gigsandtours.com.

The Straits’ upcoming ‘The Sound of Dire Straits’ UK tour includes 3 original members and some of the top session players to form a powerful, driven, and compelling live rock band not to be missed. The Straits will perform songs from the classic albums ‘Dire Straits’ (1978), ‘Communiqué’ (1979), ‘Making Movies’ (1980), ‘Love Over Gold’ (1982), ‘Brothers In Arms’ (1985) and ‘On Every Street’ (1991). Get ready for the seminal, atmospheric hits including ‘Sultans of Swing’, ‘Romeo and Juliet’, ‘Tunnel of Love’, ‘Private Investigations’, ‘Money for Nothing’, ‘Walk of Life’, and ‘Brothers in Arms’.

Emerson, Lake & Palmer, also known as ELP, are an English progressive rock super group. They found success in the 1970s, sold over forty million albums and headlined large stadium concerts. The legendary rock band reunited to celebrate their 40th Anniversary and headlined London's first High Voltage Rock Festival. This was the historic moment when Emerson Lake and Palmer performed for the first time since 1998.
This spectacular performance, with extravagant special effects and lighting, recaptured the magic and musical genius of Keith Emerson, Greg Lake and Carl Palmer as they performed their greatest hits in front of thousands of fans and leaving a lasting memory of the stunning musicianship of these three legendary performers.

JOE LYNN TURNER ENRAGED ABOUT ILLEGALLY RELEASED UNFINISHED DEMOSEx-Rainbow and Deep Purple Vocalist writes open letter to fans and media.

"Dear Fans and Media Friends,

'I am aware of a compilation of unfinished demo songs that was
published on the Internet by an individual named Scott Rolaf. These
demos were recorded in my studio about two years ago. While there was
discussion of releasing some of them as part of an album for a special
project, I was not happy with the way the collaboration was
progressing on all levels ... artistically, musically and in how it was
prematurely presented online. This is why I stopped having contact
with Scott Rolaf. We were at odds, however, he continued to pretend on
the social media sites that we were still friends and that this
project was moving forward. This was an outright lie.'

'I never had confirmed plans for this album to be released but Rolaf
took it upon himself to publish a website and other social media sites
(i.e. Reverbnation, etc.) without getting prior approval from me.
This misled my fans, members of my street team and several reputable
media outlets. I have since severed my professional and personal
relationship with Scott Rolaf permanently.'

'Scott Rolaf's recent posting of these demos for free download in the
form of an 'album' is unethical. I have taken legal action to protect
my artistic/intellectual property and reputation. On July 21, 2011,
Rolaf was served a Cease and Desist by my lawyers. Sometime around
July 29, 2011, he had the audacity to post free files of these demos
along with a 'new' press release which he wrote. These actions are, in
my opinion, nothing more than an attempt by Scott Rolaf to gain fame
on my name!'

'I admit that I made the mistake of trusting Rolaf with some
unfinished songwriting demos...simple ideas, incomplete performances,
music, vocals, production, etc. He betrayed that trust by releasing
these songs without legal or personal confirmation. This is an
unscrupulous, immoral act, and, by the laws that protect
artistic/intellectual property, it is criminal!'

'It is individuals who take actions, like Rolaf did, who hurt and
destroy the hopes and chances of
thousands of honest and talented artists who want and need a helping
hand to climb the ladder of success! This action is a pathetic example
to the true creative people who love to write and perform music. What
a stain on the heart of honest art!'

'My loyal friends and fans know of the high quality of work I have
delivered throughout my career. To think that Scott Rolaf, to whom I
extended my hand in friendship as well as professional trust, has
betrayed me by releasing unfinished/unapproved works, is an outrage!
My only hope is that you can understand this situation and realize
that this is a sad event that can happen to anybody ... anywhere
... regardless of position and status. Don't let it happen to you.'

Sincerely,Joe Lynn Turner"

PS: Please feel free to check out a portion of an interview I did with
journalist James Gaden in February 2011. I have pasted this portion of
the interview below:

INTERVIEW SEGMENT with Journalist JAMES GADEN
The following segments were transcribed from a conversation that
journalist James Gaden had with me (Joe Lynn Turner) on the 24th of
February 2011. It was taken out of what became the article that was
published in Fireworks Issue 45.

JAMES:*I'm also intrigued to hear the album you've done with Scott
Rolaf, because again, the snippets I've heard online sounded good.*

JLT:
'Well, look... alright, I've got to tell you the skinny on that right now.
It's on hold. I've got some personal problems with Rolaf... I never agreed
to the Rolaf/Turner name. I never agreed to have any of the clips on
Facebook or wherever the F**K they were. Everything has been taken down for
now. The songs are still there, but we've had some problems between us. He's
the kind of guy - maybe you have someone in your life like this, they just
go off and they do what they want. All of a sudden, you go 'Hey, I'm
supposed to be your partner!' I'm over in Europe somewhere, I come
back and there's bits and pieces of this thing all over the place. That is
not the way to market something. I don't mind him leaking a few things here
and there, but those were demos. You should hear these things now, we've got
real drums, real bass, we've been tearing down the fluff and making it real.
It's so much better. So I don't want to totally abandon "the songs" but I?m
not Rolaf/Turner. I never agreed to that. This
guy is a wannabe star, he's putting his name first - this isn'tHughes/Turner, this is not comparable. I was incised at that.

JAMES: *I can understand that. It was your name that drew my interest to the
project anyway. I'd probably have completely ignored it if you hadn't been
attached to it. *JLT:He's riding on my back isn't he? We were supposed to be getting a big
marketing company, hitting the internet, setting up all the right things,
putting out ads... that's correct, that's the way to do it. Then Scott
starts releasing stuff everywhere and we were like 'Hey, you're giving away
the game!' I don't mind a snippet here and there but it became ridiculous.
That, and the name he came up with, he did that himself and he was looking
to press CD's and put out the demos from the computer without real drums,
the tracks were murky and awful... I said hey, I don't do that standard.
It's a low standard for me. If my name is going on it, I've gotta have it
right. Anyway, we had a big f**king argument and he called me all kinds of
names and I was ready to punch him out, I swear I was. So I said
'Alright, I'm done with your ass. You're an egotist - you're arrogant
and it's not even earned.' I said 'You've done nothing, and if I open my
hand and release you, you'll go back into obscurity where you belong'. I
said 'Just because you have a bit of talent to write a fair song... please,
I've written hundreds of great songs. Have the common decency, respect
and consideration for a partnership.' If you don't have that, you have nothing. So that's it, you
have the full story there in a nutshell. Right now, it's on hold. The songs
are there, lots of good songs, but I also got a whole album of songs with a
guy in Sweden that will just blow your mind. I don't mean heavy rock stuff,
it's in a much more commercial, radio orientated way. It's got writing from
guys like Gary Baker from Nashville, guys who wrote for Backstreet Boys,
it's just a set of brilliant songs. We're finishing up the drums now and
stuff - the only thing I'm worried about is the vocals, they're demo vocals.
I was reading the lyrics, really just mapping out the songs, but the
recordings sound so good! I don't know whether I need to go and put some
excitement in there... I don't know, I feel I've got so much more ability
vocally than what is on there, but people who've heard them are just saying
it's a great other side of me. I digress, but I'm just saying I don't need
this. Working with a guy who has come out of obscurity, all the while I was
under the impression he'd follow my lead because I'm the experienced one,
but I found out that apparently he was the important one, he was the rock
star, and I'm just a tool to sing the songs. So I said 'Oh really? F**k
you'.

It's tough, on one side he's actually quite a nice guy, but on the other
side, he can be a f**king asshole! Not unlike everyone else. (laughs)'

Grammy Award winning and Oscar Award winning singer/songwriter, Christopher Cross, will perform his first and only UK concert in two years at London’s prestigious Bloomsbury Theatre on Monday 7th November 2011.Tickets are on sale from 10am on Wednesday August 3rd via the 24 hour box office: 0871 230 1101, www.seetickets.com/Tour/CHRISTOPHER-CROSS.

The special one-off UK show follows the recent release of Christopher’s new solo album, ‘Doctor Faith’.

Known to millions of music fans around the world, his classic hits include ‘Sailing’, ‘Ride Like The Wind’ (covered by Saxon and East Side Beat) and the Oscar winning ‘Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do)’ from the hit movie ‘Arthur’ starring Dudley Moore.